I'm Riding For

My Friend's son. More details later.

Several years ago, our friend gave birth to her second baby boy. We were a part of their lives, on the sidelines, as we learned of Jack's immunity problems. Essentially, he was in isolation at the Royal Children's Hospital for nine months. We all felt so helpless. His mum was way too young to have such a heavy heart and yet she traveled from the Latrobe Valley daily -- sometimes staying at the Ronald McDonald Housing provided for the families of sick children. So many questions were waiting for answers. Each sniffle and cough were worrying. All who knew Jack, his mum and dad, and his brother remained helpless and hopeful. Some days, hope was hard to muster. Thanks to research and science and extraordinary medicine, Jack is an adorable nine-year-old kid with a flaming mop framing his mischievous face. Without Stem Cell Research and brainy doctors on Jack's team, this young sweetheart might not be attending classes with his mates, climbing trees and rocks, or playing with the chickens and new pup. Jack didn't have cancer, but Jack is why I ride every year. I ride so that I am not sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. At least I am doing a bit for these doctors and research scientists - these angels on Earth. I do it to say, "thank you" that I have Jack to teach me what life really means. <3